Date: 19/06/2013
Time: 18:15 - 19:15 (17:15 - 18:15 GMT)
Aircraft: Eurostar EV-97 - G-CEDV
Pre-Holiday Quickie
I'm off on a two and a half week holiday to the antipodes tomorrow - just time to squeeze a quick flight in before I go. It is an evening flight, but as the weather looks like it may deteriorate, I leave work a little early and make my way to Popham. There is a gap between the previous booking and my booking - we are in the middle of this and concerned that the previous bookee hasn't returned and may not realise that there is someone after him, I elect to take the other Eurostar (good choice as it turned out).
Once all fuelled and checked out, I'm off on 03 and heading north. I have no particular agenda, but decide to go and find the little airfield near Tadley that a Kitfox pilot I met called Colin flies from. There are actually two airfields right next to each other, but I spot the correct one and I'm sure it was his plane I could see on the ground.
Then on to Greenham Common for a Low-ish pass over the huge disused runways, the tracking south over Highclere Castle - there are some huge exterior lights here, so I guess they are filming more Downton Abbey - better move on so not to make myself unpopular.
I track the A34 south to Bullington Cross with a few steep-banked turns to keep me amused. Then back to the airfield for an overhead join. After 3 good touch-and-go landings, I follow a full stop with another takeoff and zoom climb, circuit and land - great fun.
Once again - I needed that!